Obasanjo’s coalition not a threat to PDP in 2019 – Secondus

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, on Sunday said the new coalition being led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not a threat to the party’s victory in the 2019 general elections.

Secondus stated this in Asaba, the Delta State capital, during a reception organised by the Delta State chapter of the PDP ahead of the meeting of the National Working Committee of the party and governors elected under the party’s platform on Sunday night.

The reception was attended by the governors of Rivers, Gombe and Abia states; Nyesom Wike, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Okezie Ikpeazu respectively, and National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP.

Secondus noted that Nigerians were disappointed with the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, adding that Nigerians were prepared to massively vote out the APC government in the 2019 elections.

He said, “We vowed not to repeat the order of imposition, and we have reassured our leadership and our people that we will devolve power down to the states so that they can take responsibilities and make sure that whatever names that are submitted would not be changed.

“I believe that they would soon come back, those who have left, and there is fear in the country, and very soon, you will see political tsunami that even the members of the ruling party would be coming en-mass to the PDP.

“The new coalition will never be a threat because we are a solid political party founded by our founding fathers. We are solid on the ground, and I believe that they are a threat to the other parties and not our party.

“The Buhari administration is a colossal failure, and the entire country is aware of this.”

The PDP National Chairman restated the party’s preparedness to return power to the grassroots as the party commenced moves to reclaim power at the centre.

Secondus said, “Power will no longer reside at Wadata, power must truly go back to the people to make their choices without fear of favour.

“The old order of imposition will no longer exist in the present PDP as we have decided that in order to rebuild the party we must return the party to the people to give them the free choice of choosing their representatives at all levels.”

He urged party faithful to embark on massive ‘soul winning’ of new members.

Secondus also urged them to get their permanent voter card as the power of the PVC was greater than the influence of security and INEC, adding that the people must use their PVCs come 2019.

Also speaking, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, stressed that the party and the government in the state were strong and doing well.

He noted, “We are not afraid to go to the people because we are doing a lot despite the economic challenges facing us.”

Wike thanked Deltans for their support for the PDP, adding that the PDP is strong in both Rivers and Delta states.

He urged the people to work harmoniously to change the “clueless APC government” at the centre.

As of the time of filing this report, other governors were still being awaited for the meeting scheduled to take place at the Government House, Asaba.of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi simply said, “We need time to study the letter.”

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